Surgery to Remove 'Parasitic Twin' Gives Teen New Lease on Life

In a groundbreaking medical event, a 17-year-old from India undergoes a life-altering procedure to remove his "parasitic twin," offering him newfound hope and a fresh start.

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, doctors at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi have successfully performed surgery on a 17-year-old teenager to remove his rare "parasitic twin," which had been physically attached to his abdomen. This exceedingly rare condition, characterized as an underdeveloped conjoined twin, occurs in less than one in every 100,000 births and relies entirely on the host for survival.

The teenager presented with an alarming addition of a fully formed extra set of limbs and pelvis, sustained solely by a blood vessel arising from the chest artery. The surgery spanned two exhaustive hours and involved a team of specialists led by Dr. Asuri Krishna. Given the youth of the patient and lack of extensive medical literature, Dr. Krishna emphasized the surgical team had to rely on their "intuition, skill and knowledge" to navigate this unprecedented case.

Parasitic twins, formed when one fetus partially develops while attached to another during gestation, can pose complex medical challenges. In this particular situation, the teenager harbored two fully developed legs, buttocks, and external genitalia, amounting to a significant weight of approximately 15kg. Surprisingly, the parasitic limbs possessed the capability to feel sensations, such as pain and temperature changes.

Surgeons carefully analyzed the interconnection between the host and parasitic twins using scans to pinpoint the blood supply to the parasitic twin, which was interfaced primarily with the teen's breastbone. Although there was limited connection to the main internal organs like the liver or kidneys, the discovery of a substantial cyst added another layer of complexity to the procedure.

The surgical process unfolded in two phases: initially excising the parasitic twin, followed by a careful extraction of the cystic mass from the surrounding organs. As medical professionals from various specialties came together, the intricate separation of shared blood vessels, nerves, and tissues required meticulous expertise to avoid any damage to the host’s vital organs.

During the operation, the boy’s blood pressure fell dangerously low due to the redistribution of blood towards the parasitic twin. However, the adept surgical team was swift in their response, stabilizing him effectively. Remarkably, four days post-surgery, the teenager was discharged, reporting excellent health without complications.

The young boy, who had previously faced social stigma and isolation due to his unusual physical appearance, expressed immense relief and joy following surgery. "I hope to study and get a job. A new world has opened up to me," he shared, reflecting optimism for an active and fulfilling future after years of feeling sidelined, even having left school due to his condition. The heroic efforts of the medical team at AIIMS have not only improved his physical state but have also rekindled his dreams and aspirations.